Tristan Borz Discusses ‘Emotional’ Moment Getting Called Up To Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins called up forward Tristan Broz from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL to make his NHL debut on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres.

Broz got called up for the first time as he got a phone call from Jason Spezza, and he said the phone call was an emotional one.

“It’s a dream come true,” Broz said on Monday after practice. “I mean, just been through so much to get here. Like, what a journey it’s been. When Spezz told me, I dropped to my knees. I was like, this is… man, it’s been a lot of emotion and a lot of hard work and really, a lifelong commitment to getting better and loving the game to get here. So yeah, it was really an emotional moment. Really special.”

Broz is expected to center the Penguins’ third-line alongside Ville Koivunen and Tommy Novak. Once he was told he would be in the lineup on Wednesday, Broz told his parents, which he said was special to do.

“Just seeing their reaction, it was really cool,” Broz added. “My mom was crying and my dad was just grinning ear to ear. They were so happy, and they’ve put so much into this, emotionally, financially, just time commitment driving me to rinks. So, it’s just as much their moment as it is mine. And yeah, they’re super happy. It was really cool.”

The Penguins selected Broz in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. In the AHL this season, he’s skated in 18 games recording eight goals and five assists for 13 points.

Pittsburgh will host the Sabres on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The Penguins are looking to snap their two-game losing streak.

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